Bonsai on the Brink

I stopped in my tracks when I noticed a beautiful little tree in the entryway of my local grocery store. The tree had a unique shape with wide branches and lots of leaves. I read the label on the pot, which read “**Bonsai Tree**.” They are miniature trees that are native to Japanese culture, with a rich history in Asian culture. I instantly checked the price. It was only $6. I had to buy it. As a college student who needs all of her money for groceries, this was a huge decision. I was shopping with a friend at the time, and she told me to put the Bonsai Tree back. Something within me told me to keep it because I thought it was “rare.” Surprisingly, young Bonsai trees are very common and easy to purchase. However, I was still glad that I decided to buy it because when I returned to the grocery store the following week, there were no more Bonsai trees in stock. In fact, I have not seen any more Bonsai trees in stock since I purchased mine.

I brought my Bonsai tree back to my dorm room. I had an assortment of fake succulents to accompany it. The directions for care were simple. I could water my Bonsai tree with 5 ice cubes or 1/2 cup of water once a week. I took great care of my Bonsai tree up until winter break, but I soon started to neglect it.

I took my Bonsai tree home over the winter break. I created a watering schedule. Every Monday, I was supposed to put 5 ice cubes in the pot. Did I stick to that schedule? Sadly, no, I did not. When it was time for me to move back into my dorm for the Spring semester, I decided to leave my Bonsai tree at home. I felt that if I kept moving it around, it would become stressed out. When I came back home for the summer, I noticed that the roots on my Bonsai tree were trying to come out of the pot. My Bonsai was outgrowing its original pot and was in desperate need of a transplant. Ironically, the word Bonsai means to grow in a container. The traditional Japanese translation is “tray planting.”

Weeks and months have gone by, yet my Bonsai tree is still in its original pot. Transplanting a Bonsai tree is not as easy as one would think. You cannot use regular potting soil because they require a special type of soil. According to a website called “**Bonsai Empire*,” Bonsai soil mix should include Akadama, Pumice, Lava rock, organic potting compost, and fine gravel, also known as grit*. Getting the Bonsai soil is still on my To-Do list. Secondly, I need the right-sized pot for the upgrade. I have a pot that is not too large, but slightly big enough to accommodate the growing roots. The only problem is that my pot does not have drainage holes at the bottom. This means that I will either have to search for a new pot or drill drainage holes into the pot that I already have.

This is what my Bonsai Tree currently looks like. In comparison to the way it looked when I first bought it, it has grown wider. However, it has lost a lot of leaves.

One of the leaves in this picture is turning black. Operation Save My Bonsai Tree is a go. My personal nature goal for the start of Spring 2026 is to successfully transplant my Bonsai tree into its new pot. The ultimate goal is to keep it alive for many years so that I can place it in the backyard of my future home. Despite how well I have been taking care of it lately, this Bonsai tree means a lot to me. One of my favorite movies growing up was “The Karate Kid,” the original 1984 version. Mr. Miyagi was my favorite character. In this movie, he is known for training Daniel LaRusso to fight against Johnny Lawrence from Cobra Kai. During one of Mr. Miyagi’s teachings, he showed Daniel the importance of having patience and discipline while trimming Bonsai trees.

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This tree is a symbol of the morals and values that were represented in The Karate Kid. Bonsai trees are also a representation of balance, harmony, peace, positivity, and good luck.

If I ever decide to purchase another tree, I would buy a **Money Tree*. This tree is another example of good luck. I didn’t learn about Money Trees until after I heard the song “Money Trees” by Kendrick Lamar. Should I name it Halle Berry or Hallelujah*? Stay tuned for an update about my Bonsai tree and my future Money tree!

XOXO,

Nature Girl

Sources

[embed]Behold the Bonsai: Learn the Ancient History and Meaning of This Miniature Tree Bonsai trees were first introduced in China more than 1,300 years ago, but today, they're enjoyed by people all over…mymodernmet.com

[embed]Money Tree Plant Care Guide: Tips For Prosperity And Luck One of the most common plants, the money tree plant has healing powers that will bring good luck and fortune and caring…www.ambius.com